Living in Diabetes Land

I asked him if he ever got tired of working in the field of diabetes social media and awareness because it seemed to me that it would be tiring or depressing. His answer alluded to nothing of the sort. It seemed he was happy to be so involved in all things diabetes and helping others.

This was when I blogged once a week or so because my twins were these cute, needy little infants.

The other day I was asked what one of my passions was and I struggled to answer because I wanted to say “diabetes?” I guess what I meant is helping people with diabetes.

You can’t get me to do anything I don’t want to do. I’m pretty darn stubborn and moody. So lately when I spend each day writing a blog or article about diabetes, emailing people with diabetes, health coaching people with diabetes, reading about diabetes, researching on diabetes, reading diabetes blogs, interacting with people on facebook about diabetes, volunteering for diabetes advocacy, and then managing my own diabetes…well, there just isn’t another way for me to describe what it’s like than to say I live in “diabetes land”. I know I’ve used that term before but I mean it. And while it seemed intimidating before, now it’s just natural.

What’s funny is that while I don’t typically read too much about diabetes complications for the fear and anxiety it causes me, I don’t seem to shy away from anything else diabetes related. I love to learn about it, read other’s experiences with it, support those who have it, and think about ways to improve my own diabetes. I could never run out of information to delve into. Diabetes is so complicated and fascinating and because of the variances within the human body, manifests uniquely for each person.

It’s strange because only recently have I realized others are not like this. I respect those who are so adamant about diabetes not defining their lives that they don’t talk much about it. I think that’s awesome and I sometimes wish I were like that. I totally understand not wanting to confront diabetes because of fear. And I get focusing more on daily life than on one’s chronic illness.

I guess I was always meant to be a diabetes advocate. I have an unquenchable passion for making one’s life great alongside diabetes and for the rights of people to health and happiness despite this condition. I don’t know if this is an asset to my own health…I like to think so. I just have to remember to take care of me, too.

Does your passion distract you from your own diabetes? If so, how can you redirect some of your everyday energy back into managing your diabetes?

Lately, diabetes HAS become my passion, but that concerns me. I’m a bit afraid of getting too wrapped up in it that it becomes overwhelming; more overwhelming than the D without the O-C (Online Community) can become.

There was a time a few years ago, when TuDiabetes was really all that was out there (that I knew of) and I decided I needed a break. Living with it was one thing, but being reminded of it, thinking about it, and talking/writing about it was quite another. I do believe that, at some point, this “phase” will run its course and I’ll turn my attention elsewhere (most blogs end up that way), but for now, I’ll just do what works for me now, and worry about my next passion when it inspires me.